Brad Ellsworth on Social Security

Democrat

Don't raise the retirement age; put people to work instead

Coats said Social Security needs to be "saved from itself" and suggested increasing the retirement age and looking at other options to fix the program.

Ellsworth said now isn't the time to raise the retirement age and that putting more people back to
work would put more money into the system. Raising the retirement age would be fine for those who work at desks but "it's not fine for somebody who's on the end of a jackhammer," he said.

Privatization removes the guarantee and reduces the benefit

I’ll protect Social Security. Social Security is a guaranteed benefit. Privatization removes the guarantee and reduces the benefit. I will work to strengthen Social Security and oppose any plan that threatens it.

Strengthen Trust Funds and take them off-budget.

Take the Social Security and Medicare trust fund surpluses off-budget and require that the trust fund surpluses be saved for Social Security and Medicare

Reserve half of the on-budget surplus over the next five years -- $370 billion -- for debt reduction and strengthening Social Security and Medicare

Allocate one-quarter of the on-budget surplus over the next five years for investments in priorities identified by the President and supported by both parties in Congress, including defense, Medicare prescription drugs, education, agriculture, low-income programs and veterans.

Devote one-quarter of the on-budget surplus to tax cuts retroactive to 2001, for a net tax cut of $180 billion from 2001-2006.

Source: Blue Dog Coalition letter to the Senate 01-BDC5 on May 9, 2001